iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5s: 5 Things to Know About the Big iPhone

Apple is finally ready to deliver a big iPhone that will surpass the iPhone 5s with a larger display. Thanks to many leaks and shipping from China we can share a 5.5-inch iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5s comparison that shows just how much bigger the largest iPhone 6 will be.

It’s been almost two years since Apple increased the iPhone screen size, and the iPhone 5s carries that same 4-inch screen. In a month we expect to see Apple deliver two new iPhone 6 screen sizes including a 4.7-inch model and a massive 5.5-inch iPhone 6.

We’re taking a closer look at the iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5s size comparison as well as other key details that potential buyers need to know as we move closer to the iPhone 6 release date in late September.

A 5.5-inch iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5s shows a massive difference in size.

We are using a Verizon iPhone 5s running iOS 8 and two iPhone 6 mock ups from China that bring the iPhone 6 rumors to life with a 4.7-inch display and a 5.5-inch display.

The larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5 side-by-side photo above shows just how big this new iPhone is. There is a chance that the final design will change, but we are already seeing iPhone 6 cases for the smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 6 with the same design.

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iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5s Video

Watch the iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5s video below to see how the iPhone 5s and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 compared. We’ll also show you the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 for good measure.

iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5s Size

It is impossible to hold the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 and the iPhone 5s and not immediately say, “This is huge.”

The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is not much bigger than the iPhone 5s, but the 5.5-inch iPhone is simply massive. It is taller than the Galaxy Note 3, which is already a big device.

The 5.5-inch iPhone 6 is much bigger than the iPhone 5s.

In the photo above you can see the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5s size comparison that shows a big difference in size. The larger iPhone 6 still fits in a pocket, but users with small hands may need to commit to two-handed use and small pockets on women’s pants may prove to be a challenge for this device.

iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5s Display

The main reason that the new iPhone 6 is so much bigger than the iPhone 5s is the big jump in screen size. The iPhone 5s features a 4-inch display and the iPhone 6 next to it in this photo delivers a 5.5-inch display. That’s a 1.5-inch increase, the largest Apple’s ever delivered on the iPhone.

The iPhone 5s resolution is 1,136 x 640 with 326 pixels per inch (ppi). The largest iPhone 6 will offer a 5.5-inch display with a 1,704 x 960 resolution based on current leaks. This translates into a higher 356 ppi that should deliver a little more detail to photos and videos. The iPhone 6 with a 4.7-inch display will reportedly use the same resolution and offer a higher 416 ppi.

iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5s One Handed Use

The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is easy enough to hold in one hand, and although we don’t own a functional prototype, it feels like a device most users can operate with a single hand. One-handed use is one thing many users love about the 4-inch iPhone 5s. The relatively small screen makes it easy to hold the phone in one hand while browsing, texting and using apps.

The iPhone 5s and 4.7-inch iPhone 6 are easy to use in one hand, but the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 is too big to use with one hand.

A 5.5-inch iPhone 6 is clearly in two hand territory. The relocated power button to the side of the device will help users perform simple tasks with the bigger iPhone 6, but the overall size is still too big to be used with one hand all the time. Competing devices offer a one-handed mode, but most implementations are clunky — shrinking the full screen. If Apple implements any special software features expect it to be a keyboard or phone dialer shift to the side.

Thankfully the Notification Center, Control Center and swipe back gestures will help users access some items with one hand, even on a 5.5-inch iPhone 6. If you plan to buy this larger iPhone 6, expect to use both hands for most of your usage, and invest in a bluetooth headset.

iPhone 6 vs iPhone 5s Design

The iPhone 6 features a new design with more curves than the iPhone 5s.

Once you get over just how much bigger the 5.5 inch iPhone 6 is than the iPhone 5s you’ll notice that it includes a new design. This is a design that it shares with the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and appears very close to the final design.

The back of the iPhone 6 is all metal this year, dropping the glass top and bottom panels from the iPhone 5s. Leaks suggest there is a break in the metal filled in with some material where the white lines are on these mock ups. These breaks and a special opening for an Apple Logo are designed to help WiFi, GPS and cellular connectivity inside the metal frame.

The new design makes the large iPhone 6 easier to hold.

The edges of the iPhone 6 feature curves where the iPhone 5s uses straight sides and chamfered edges. The corners are also more round on the iPhone 6 than on the iPhone 5s. We expect a thinner iPhone 6, but the build quality on mock-ups is not good enough to deliver a spot-on analysis of the exact iPhone 6 thickness.

Specs Comparison

Although some reports suggest the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 and the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will arrive with different specs it is more likely that apple plans to put the new Apple A8 chip and the same basic features into each of these devices. Here’s a list of the likely iPhone 6 specs.

The iPhone 5s specs are well-known with the following items delivering familiar iPhone 5s features.

Apple A7 64-bit processor

iOS 7.1.2 – Free upgrade to iOS 8.

4-inch display

16GB / 32GB/ 64GB storage options

1.2MP front facing camera

8MP rear facing camera

802.11n WiFi

Touch ID fingerprint Sensor

We’re still waiting to learn exactly what iPhone 6 camera upgrades Apple will offer this year and other items like NFC are not confirmed at this point. We’ll know more about the iPhone 6 specs after Apple holds an announcement in early September.

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According to multiple sources Apple plans an iPhone 6 event on September 9th, which means the iPhone 6 release date may land on September 19th. A 5.5-inch iPhone 6 release date may come weeks later in October due to a later start in manufacturing. The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 price should stay at $199 like most new iPhones, but analysts predict the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 price will jump $100 to $299 for a 16GB model.